How to Make a Relaxing Facial Mask

At the end of the week you really want to get some rest for the big weekend you have starting tomorrow. You're wound too tight and you know it, so you need to take some action. A relaxing homemade facial mask and warm milk can be just what you need. Read on to learn more. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• French green clay
• Rose hips seed oil
• Banana
• Avocado
• Sweet almond oil
• Essential oil of rose
• Fresh lemon balm
• Fresh sage leaves
• Fresh thyme
• Aloe vera juice
• Honey
• Calendula flowers
• Chamomile flowers
• Wheat germ or flax seed oil
• Natural yogurt
• Dried green tea leaves
• Distilled water
• Pink kaolin clay
• Fine colloidal oatmeal
• Buttermilk powder
• Powdered lavender buds or rosehip powder

Instructions

1. Create a fragrant mask from 1 tablespoon of each of the following ingredients: French green clay, fresh lemon balm, fresh sage leaves, fresh thyme, honey and aloe vera juice. Crush the lemon balm, sage, and thyme in the clay. Add the honey and 1 to 2 tbsp. aloe vera juice. Apply the mask to clean skin and rinse off after 10 to 20 minutes with tepid water. As with all facial masks, avoid the eye and mouth areas.

2. Moisturize dry skin with a homemade floral yogurt mask. Crush 1 tbsp. each of calendula flowers and chamomile flowers. Mix the crushed ingredients with a mixture of 1 tbsp. plain organic yogurt and 1 tbsp. wheat germ or flax oil. Apply to a clean face. Wash off after 10 to 20 minutes with tepid water. This doesn't keep well; so only make one batch at a time.

3. Use green tea in a homemade facial mask to renew the skin. Boil 1 cup distilled water, remove from heat and add a heaping tbsp. each of dried green tea leaves and dried chamomile flowers. Allow to steep for at least 15 minutes and then strain. While it's steeping, mix 2 tbsp. pink kaolin clay, 1 tbsp. fine colloidal oatmeal and 1 tsp. each of buttermilk powder, powdered lavender buds or rosehip powder, rose hips seed oil and aloe vera juice. Add enough of the tea to make a thick paste, and apply with a circular motion to the face. Rinse off with tepid water after 10 to 20 minutes. Follow up with a soothing moisturizer.

4. Make a homemade yogurt-banana-honey facial mask. Mix 1 tsp. honey with a thoroughly mashed banana and 2 teaspoons yogurt. Evenly apply it to the face. Leave it on for10 to 20 minutes or until it is absorbed. Rinse off.

5. Rub the skin of an avocado all over your face if your skin is dry, and allow it to firm up, which should take about 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water.

6. Soften even the driest of skins by using 2 tbsp. each of honey and sweet almond oil. Add about 5 drops of essential oil of rose. Massage onto a clean face and neck. Wait 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

7. Relax with a creamy honey and avocado mask. Separate an egg. In a container with a lid, mix the yolk with 3 tbsp. honey and 2 tbsp. mashed avocado. When it's thoroughly mixed, blend in the egg white. Close the container and shake it well. Apply to the face and let it work for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse the mixture off with tepid water.

Tips & Warnings

• As with all facial masks, avoid the eye and mouth areas when using homemade masks.